For those who might be wondering how we fared, here is a short update from our trip. 

http://www.polarcom.com/~riverquest/

 

Total Time Paddling: 51:51hours (beating our goal by 12 hours)

Total Time: 61:61 hours

Total Sleep in 3 days: 3 - 5 hours

Time Breakdown:

Whitehorse to Carmacks: (323km) 24hrs 16min non-stop paddling

Carmacks Mandatory Stop: 7hrs

Carmacks to Kirkman Cr: (280km) 20hrs 29min non-stop paddling

Kirkman Mandator Stop: 3hrs

Kirkman to Dawson City: (160km) 7hrs 06min non-stop paddling.

 

Finish Place: 9^th Overall, 6^th in Canoe. 7.5 hours behind first place team, who are 2001 YRQ Record holders, 2 time gold medallist, and 35 years canoe marathon experience and 38minutes behind 8^th place team, BBC’s Adventure Challenge Team consisting of Olympic kayaker and successful triathlete.

 

Considering: We still don’t know how to do the marathon stroke, only once paddled in the same boat together prior to race, had never been in a racing boat before.  Partied in Whitehorse prior to race, carried a flask of Jack Daniels with us during the race, and stepped off the river, posed naked at the finish line then proceeded to party for the next two days in Dawson City's saloons.

 

Interesting Events: Paddled through 3 forest fires, two of which were burning right down to the river with the smoke so thick you could barely see the sun or the banks of the river, hallucinated on river due to sleep deprivation, 17 of the 53 teams never complete the race, 5 teams were wiped out in the rapids at Five Fingers, saw 5 black bears.  At one point I awoke from a peaceful dream and was shocked to find myself on a river in the middle of nowhere still paddling with no clue how I got there.  Met some amazing people from all over the world.  Some of whom are truly inspirational.